The Meaning of Exodus 25:2 Explained

Exodus 25:2

KJV: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

YLT: 'Speak unto the sons of Israel, and they take for Me a heave-offering; from every man whose heart impelleth him ye do take My heave-offering.

Darby: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me a heave-offering: of every one whose heart prompteth him, ye shall take my heave-offering.

ASV: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for me an offering: of every man whose heart maketh him willing ye shall take my offering.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Speak  unto the children  of Israel,  that they bring  me an offering:  of every man  that giveth it willingly  with his heart  ye shall take  my offering. 

What does Exodus 25:2 Mean?

Study Notes

willingly
.
Moreover
In 2 Corinthians 8, 9, the apostle sums up the Christian doctrine of giving. It may be thus summarized:
(1) It is a "grace," i.e. a disposition created by the Spirit 2 Corinthians 8:7
(2) In contrast with the law, which imposed giving as a divine requirement, Christian giving is voluntary, and a test of sincerity and love 2 Corinthians 8:8-12 ; 2 Corinthians 9:1 ; 2 Corinthians 9:2 ; 2 Corinthians 9:5 ; 2 Corinthians 9:7
(3) The privilege is universal, belonging, according to ability, to rich and poor 2 Corinthians 8:1-3 ; 2 Corinthians 8:12-15 ; 1 Corinthians 16:1 ; 1 Corinthians 16:2 .
(4) Giving is to be proportioned to income 2 Corinthians 8:12-14 ; 1 Corinthians 16:2 . The O.T. proportion was the tithe, a proportion which antedates the law Genesis 14:20 .
(5) The rewards of Christian giving are (a) joy 2 Corinthians 8:2 (b) increased ability to give in proportion to that which has been already given 2 Corinthians 9:7-11 (c) increased thankfulness to God 2 Corinthians 9:12 (d) God and the Gospel glorified 2 Corinthians 9:13 ; 2 Corinthians 9:14

Context Summary

Exodus 25:1-9 - Moses Shown God's Plan For The Tabernacle
There were four concentric circles, so to speak, represented as gathered around the burning center of the Divine Presence. In the outer circle, the people, Exodus 24:2; Exodus 24:17; next, the seventy elders, Exodus 24:9; Exodus 24:14; then, Joshua, Exodus 24:13; Exodus 32:17, and lastly, Moses, Exodus 24:18. These represent respectively, the unenlightened; those whose religious life is hindered by their excessive devotion to the flesh; the few whose fellowship is liable to be interrupted by the war-clarion; and those who have been made nigh unto God in Jesus Christ our Lord, and have been baptized into the Holy Spirit. To which group have we attained? We are invited to draw nigh, let us act on the invitation. See Hebrews 10:19-20. There is always room at the top, and there we may stand, beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord. Notice that God said, Come up unto Me. He longs to have our love and faith; His delights are with the sons of men; at great cost He has opened the door of access, Romans 5:1-2. We need God, but God wants us, and therefore the construction of the Tabernacle is next arranged, that He may dwell with man upon the earth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 25

1  What the Israelites were to offer for the building of the tabernacle
10  The dimensions of the ark
17  The mercy seat, with the cherubim
23  The table of show bread, with the furniture thereof
31  The golden candlestick, with the instruments thereof

What do the individual words in Exodus 25:2 mean?

speak to the sons of Israel that they bring Me an offering from every man who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take - My offering
דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִקְחוּ־ לִ֖י תְּרוּמָ֑ה מֵאֵ֤ת כָּל־ אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹ תִּקְח֖וּ אֶת־ תְּרוּמָתִֽי

דַּבֵּר֙  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וְיִקְחוּ־  that  they  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
לִ֖י  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
תְּרוּמָ֑ה  an  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּרוּמָה  
Sense: contribution, offering.
כָּל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אִישׁ֙  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ  gives  it  willingly 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָדַב  
Sense: to incite, impel, make willing.
לִבּ֔וֹ  with  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
תִּקְח֖וּ  you  shall  take 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
תְּרוּמָתִֽי  My  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: תְּרוּמָה  
Sense: contribution, offering.